Page 35 of Daddy's Reluctant Queen

He blinks with slight confusion. “What?”

“You said he ‘thinks’ he’s alone. Get to the real point.”

Cyrus adjusts his stance, slightly lifting his heels and dropping them as if being sure of his footing. “The last anyone saw of his sister was at the warehouse,” he said. “She’s not there now. Not since you came and got her.”

“So?”

“So, the common thought is that you had her killed.” He stops, the rest of his thought hanging in the air between us.

“I see. What’s the uncommon thought?”

He doesn’t want to say it out loud and I don’t blame him. Being too flippant with a Pakhan could end with a bullet between the eyes.

“The uncommon thought is that you let her go… sir.”

“Why on earth would anyone think I’d do that? After going through all this trouble to wipe out the Penzas, I’m just going to let his daughter go?” I tilt my head toward him, challenging him. “Do you think because I never directly told you to put a bullet in their heads that I’m getting soft? Is that really the narrative you want to play out?”

He swallows hard. “Sir, I?—”

“Death is easy, gentlemen. Offering somebody release from life is a mercy. Do you think I’m looking to offer mercy to them?”

I stand up and walk around my desk, facing them both as they stand shoulder to shoulder in front of me, daring them silently. Neither man moves. Cyril looks down at his shoes and Cyrus tries to look past me, his body as stiff as a board.

“There are much worse things in this life than death,” I tell them. “You two, out of everyone, should know that.”

“Sir, we’re not trying to be disrespectful,” Cyrus says a little softer. “It’s just that… people are talking.”

“Of course they are. The woman isbeinghandled,” I say, “if you must know.” I study their faces carefully, letting them process that information. “Go and tell the ‘brothers’ that she serves me in a personal capacity now.”

“Personal…”

“Do I need to be blunt? Every night, I tie the daughter of my enemy to a bed and fuck her until she begs for mercy.”

A smile tickles at the corners of Cyril’s mouth. Cyrus remains stoic.

“Satisfied?”

“We’re sorry, sir,” says Cyrus. “We didn’t… well, we were never in the camp of the guys who were saying you freed her. Personally, I preferred to think that you took care of the woman instead.”

“I’ve taken care of her, all right,” I say to him. “Now, I expect you to take care of her brother.”

Cyril almost looks gleeful. “Have my orders changed, sir?”

“They have not. I still want him alive. More than ever now that he might be talking to the Feds.” I walk over to the drink caddy in the corner of my room. As I do, I look casually at my door to the office, cracked open slightly, and I catch a little movement.

Dammit. I told her to go to her room.

I make my drink, choosing vodka for this conversation. “So, you heard that he was taken from a motel in the middle of the night. You can’t really confirm that he is, actually, speaking to the Feds at this moment. Whether he is or he isn’t, I’d like the honor of dragging that out of him before he dies.”

“Yes, sir,” they both say in unison. Then Cyrus says, “I can speak to Lev about finding out which of his girls witnessed what happened?—”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort,” I say, looking over my shoulder at him. “I’m putting Ignat on asking around about him. All I want from you two is to be there when he calls. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.” I turn to them and take a drink. The vodka is warm and welcome as it runs down my throat. “Now, get out and get to work.”

They bow their heads respectfully and turn to leave, then Cyril stops. “I do have one question, though. About the Aristov daughter.” I raise my eyebrows in answer. “When you’re done with her, what are you going to do?”